Timing Chain: Adjustments

Adjusting camshaft timing (M62 VANOS from 9/98)

Special tools required:
00 9 250
11 2 300
11 2 441
11 2 442
11 2 443
11 2 444
11 2 445
11 2 445
11 4 230
11 4 231
11 4 232
11 5 180
11 6 440
11 6 450
11 6 451
11 6 452
11 7 380

Remove intake filter housing with air-mass flow sensor. Service and Repair
Remove fan impeller with fan clutch and fan cowl.
Remove both cylinder head covers.Service and Repair
Remove spark plugs. Service and Repair

Note: In TDC firing position, the inlet camshaft 1 to 4 twists in the splines of the camshaft adjustment unit.

Caution: This twisting is caused by the position of the cams and is not an indication for incorrect timing.

Remove oil lines on left and right of cylinder head.

Turn engine in direction of rotation as far as TDC firing position of first cylinder.

E38/E39

Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 2 300 in TDC firing position of first cylinder.

Caution: Remove special tool 11 2 300 before starting engine.

E53 (X5)

Secure crankshaft with special tool 11 5 180 in TDC firing position of first cylinder.

Caution: Remove special tool 11 5 180 before starting engine.

Remove piston for chain tensioner. Service and Repair
Remove both top timing case covers. Timing Case Cover Upper

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Release nut (1) on sensor gear screw connection on cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Remove sensor gear (2) on cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Release nut (1) on sensor gear screw connection on cylinder bank 5 to 8.

Remove sensor gear (2) on cylinder bank 5 to 8.

Caution: Do not damage the cylinder head.

If necessary, machine open-end wrench accordingly.
When releasing camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hex head.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Slacken screw connection (1) of exhaust camshaft on cylinder bank 5 to 8 by approx. half a turn.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

When releasing camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hex head.
Slacken screw connection (1) of exhaust camshaft on cylinder bank 1 to 4 by approx. half a turn.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

When releasing camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hex head.
Slacken screw connection (2) of inlet camshaft on cylinder bank 5 to 8 by approx. half a turn.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

When releasing camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hex head.
Slacken screw connection (2) of inlet camshaft on cylinder bank 1 to 4 by approx. half a turn.

Align camshafts.
Fit special tool 11 2 445 / 441 to camshafts on cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Fit special tool 11 2 443 to special tool 11 2 445 / 441 and secure with special tool 11 2 444 using the spark plug thread.

Align camshafts.
Fit special tool 11 2 446 / 442 to camshafts on cylinder bank 5-8.

Fit special tool 1 1 2 443 to special tool 11 2 446 / 442 and secure with special tool 11 2 444 using the spark plug thread.

Fit special tool 11 7 380 to right cylinder head on cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Note: The special tool kit 11 3 390 can no longer be fitted in the E53 (X5) with M62 engine due to altered space conditions.
With the market launch of the E53 (X5) with M62 engine, the special tool kit 11 3 390 is dropped.
The shorter special tool kit 11 4 230 comprising special tools 11 4 231 and 11 4 232 replaces the special tool kit 11 3 390.

Install special tool 11 4 230 in special tool 11 7 380.
Screw in adjustment screw on tensioning rail but do not tighten yet.

Note: The continuity test with the multimeter described in the following is not possible on the M62 B46 because of the different design of the camshaft adjustment unit. The remaining procedure is identical.

Connect a commercially available multimeter to a contact pin on camshaft adjustment unit and to screw connection on oil line on cylinder bank 5 to 8.
Set multimeter to acoustic continuity test.

Attach special tool 11 6 440 to camshaft adjustment unit on cylinder bank 5 to 8 and move at 40 Nm to left-hand stop.
Check left-hand stop of camshaft adjustment unit with acoustic continuity test on multimeter.

Note: Turning the camshaft adjustment unit at 40 Nm to the left-hand stop ensures that the end position has been reached and there is no longer an "oil cushion" before the left-hand stop of the camshaft adjustment unit.

In the camshaft adjustment unit, there are three contacts which are closed when the unit is at the left-hand stop.
During the acoustic continuity test with the multimeter, a sound signal can be heard when the camshaft adjustment unit is at the left-hand stop.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Tighten screw connection (2) of inlet camshaft on cylinder bank 5 to 8 to an initial torque of 15 Nm and then slacken off by a 1/4 turn.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Tighten screw connection (1) of exhaust camshaft on cylinder bank 5 to 8 to an initial torque of 15 Nm and then slacken off by a 1/4 turn.

Note: The continuity test with the multimeter described in the following is not possible on the M62 B46 because of the different design of the camshaft adjustment unit. The remaining procedure is identical.

Connect a commercially available multimeter to a contact pin on camshaft adjustment unit and to screw connection on oil line on cylinder bank 1 to 4.
Set multimeter to acoustic continuity test.

Attach special tool 11 6 440 to camshaft adjustment unit on cylinder bank 1 to 4 and move at 40 Nm to left-hand stop.
Check left-hand stop of camshaft adjustment unit with acoustic continuity test on multimeter.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Tighten screw connection (2) of inlet camshaft on cylinder bank 1 to 4 to an initial torque of 15 Nm and then slacken off by a 1/4 turn.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Tighten screw connection (1) of exhaust camshaft on cylinder bank 1 to 4 to an initial torque of 15 Nm and then slacken off by a 1/4 turn.

Pretension tensioning rail by turning the adjusting screw on the special tool 11 4 230 with special tool 00 9 250 to 0.7 Nm.

Note: If installation tolerance is unfavorable, attach special tool 00 9 250 from underside.

Note: Pretensioning the timing chain moves the camshaft adjustment unit and the unit must therefore be reset to the left-hand stop.

Attach special tool 11 6 440 to camshaft adjustment unit on cylinder bank 5 to 8 and move at 40 Nm to left-hand stop.
Check left-hand stop of camshaft adjustment unit with acoustic continuity test on multimeter.

Caution: Do not damage the cylinder head.

If necessary, machine open-end wrench accordingly.
When tightening down camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hexagon head.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Tighten down screw connection (2) of inlet camshaft on cylinder bank 5 to 8.
Tightening Torque, refer to Engine, Specifications.
11 36 14AZ VANOS adjustment unit to inlet camshaft
M62 / VANOS
M12 x 1.5 110 Nm

Caution: Left-hand threads.

When tightening down camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hexagon head.
Tighten down screw connection (1) of exhaust camshaft on cylinder bank 5 to 8.
Tightening Torque, refer to Engine, Specifications.
11 36 13AZ Exhaust chain wheel to exhaust camshaft
M62 / VANOS
M12 x 1.5 125 Nm

Caution: Left-hand threads.

When tightening down camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hexagon head.
Tighten down screw connection (2) of inlet camshaft on cylinder bank 1 to 4.
Tightening Torque, refer to Engine, Specifications.
11 36 14AZ VANOS adjustment unit to inlet camshaft
M62 / VANOS
M12 x 1.5 110 Nm

Caution: Left-hand threads.

When tightening down camshaft screw connection, grip camshaft at hexagon head.
Tighten down screw connection (1) of exhaust camshaft on cylinder bank 1 to 4.
Tightening Torque, refer to Engine, Specifications.
11 36 13AZ Exhaust chain wheel to exhaust camshaft
M62 / VANOS
M12 x 1.5 125 Nm

Attach sensor gear (2) to cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Fit nut (1) of sensor gear screw connection on cylinder bank 1 to 4 and initially tighten without play, but do not tighten down yet.

Note: Special tool kit 11 6 450 comprises:
Special tool 11 6 451 for cylinder bank 1 to 4
Special tool 11 6 452 for cylinder bank 5 to 8

Align locating bore (1) on sensor gear of cylinder bank 1 to 4 to positioning pin on special tool 11 6 451. Fit special tool 11 6 451, insert screws and initially tighten without play. Press special tool 11 6 451 downwards and align to cylinder head. Tighten down special tool 11 6 451.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Tighten down nut (1) on sensor gear screw connection.
Tightening Torque, refer to Engine, Specifications.
11 36 15AZ Nut of sensor gear screw fitting
M62 / VANOS
M18 x 1.5 40 Nm

Remove special tool 11 6 451 from right cylinder head on cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Attach sensor gear (2) to cylinder bank 5 to 8.

Caution: Left-hand threads.

Fit nut (1) of sensor gear screw connection on cylinder bank 5 to 8 and initially tighten without play, but do not tighten down yet.

Note: Special tool kit 11 6 450 comprises:
Special tool 11 6 451 for cylinder bank 1 to 4
Special tool 11 6 452 for cylinder bank 5 to 8

Align locating bore (1) on sensor gear of cylinder bank 5 to 8 to positioning pin on special tool 11 6 452. Fit special tool 11 6 452, insert screws and initially tighten without play. Press special tool 11 6 452 downwards and align to cylinder head. Tighten down special tool 11 6 452.

Remove special tool 11 6 452 from left cylinder head on cylinder bank 5 to 8.

Remove special tools 11 2 444 / 443 / 445 / 441.

Remove special tools 11 2 444 / 443 / 442 / 446.

Relieve tension on special tool 11 4 230.
Remove special tool 11 7 380 from right cylinder head on cylinder bank 1 to 4.

Install oil lines on left and right of cylinder head.
Install both top timing case covers. Timing Case Cover Upper
Install chain tensioning piston. Service and Repair

E38/E39

Remove special tool 11 2 300.

E53 (X5)

Assemble engine.